JDS Uniphase Plans Merger with Longtime Supplier OCLI

JDS Uniphase Corp. of San Jose, Calif., and Optical Coating Laboratory Inc. (OCLI) of Santa Rosa, Calif., have signed a merger agreement under which OCLI will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of JDS Uniphase. The companies expect the $2.8 billion deal to be finalized in early 2000, pending government review.

During a Nov. 4 conference call, Charles J. Abbe, CEO of OCLI, called the arrangement a "relationship of two plus two equals five." He cited his company's long history as a supplier to JDS Uniphase. The companies had operated a contractual joint venture since 1997.

JDS Uniphase produces components and subsystems for optical telecommunications. OCLI manufactures thin-film coatings and components, including filters for wavelength division multiplexing.